Kuwait city: At least 40 Indians feared dead in a building fire in the city of Mangaf in southern Kuwait, the country’s state media reported on Wednesday. According to reports, at toal of 41 people were killed in the tragic incident. Local media reported that the building has a large Malyalam population. However, an official confirmation from the authorities is still awaited.
According to the statement released by Kuwait Health Ministry, all injured people, including some in critical condition, have been taken to several nearby hospitals for necessary medical treatment. Medical teams are doing their utmost to provide due medical care to those injured in the building fire, added the ministry.
According to the report, the fire started in the kitchen of a labour camp at 4:30 am on Wednesday. Some people died after jumping out of the apartment upon seeing the fire, while others perished from burns and smoke inhalation.
Building owned by an Indian businessman: Report
According to a report by Onmanorama, the building, which houses approximately 195 labourers from a nearby commercial area along with several Malayalis, is owned by KG Abraham, a Malayali businessman, under the NBTC group. Although the fire has been contained, there are reports of individuals still trapped inside.
Kuwait Dy PM says real estate owner's greed lead to the death
Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah visited the site and accused real estate owners of violations and greed. "Unfortunately, the greed of real estate owners is what leads to these matters," said Sheikh Fahad, who also runs the interior and defence ministries. The fire was reported to authorities at 6:00 a.m. local time (0300 GMT), Major General Eid Rashed Hamad said.
"The building in which the fire occurred was used to house workers, and there was a large number of workers there. Dozens were rescued, but unfortunately, there were many deaths as a result of inhaling smoke from the fire," another senior police commander told state TV.
"We always alert and warn against" cramming too many workers into housing accommodation, he said, without providing details on the workers' type of employment or place of origin. The fire was contained and authorities were investigating its cause, officials said.
(With inputs from agency)
